Ataboy extends its creative scope and reach with the addition of directors/content creators Nicolas Heller and Corydon Wagner.
Heller’s work encompasses two distinct influences; the low-fi, authenticity of life on the city’s streets as featured in his popular New York Nico Instagram feed, and the curated sensibility from a lifelong exposure to design. His work caught the attention of Rolling Stone, which commissioned a series of six docs on street culture, and he was recently profiled by New Balance on its Made.Mondays series. His short form work includes a new campaign of :10 vignette Snapchat ads for Foursquare/Swarm as well as a recent campaign for shipping company Shyp. Signing with Ataboy is a natural next step in his expansion into documentary style, brand-supported content and real people advertising. His growing status as a social influencer, conversant in commercial production, digital, and social content creation, positions Heller well for multi-platform campaigns.
Also based in New York City, Wagner is best known for bringing brands to life through impactful visuals and memorable performances. He has worked closely with agencies such as Chiel, TBWAChiatDay, McCann, MRM and Deep Focus to develop and deliver brand messages for clients such as Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, and more. In his breakout year as a commercial director, he received a 2012 Young Director Award at Cannes. This same year, he also won Ciclopes, AICP Show, Summit International, Hermes Creative Awards, and was a Webby Branded Content Honoree. Wagner also directs short films that reveal poignantly funny human truths.
Through Ataboy, Wagner has the opportunity to continue collaborating with Ataboy founder/creative director Vikkal Parikh, a longtime friend and mentor. The pair had the chance to team up on projects for AARP with Influent50 and Miracle Ear out of Wunderman Chicago earlier this year. Wagner took on the assignments as a freelancer, getting acquainted with Ataboy in the process, eventually leading to his signing with the company. Ataboy marks Wagner’s first national representation; earlier in his career he was handled regionally by Chapter Media.
Meanwhile Ataboy is the first formal career roost for Heller. The company is headed by Parikh and EP Diana Mandelare.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More